Servilia's true love, meanwhile, is spending money. With Posca, Caesar's pacing around on the street and going over which city officials to bribe and how much. Posca complains that the amount they're spending won't leave them enough to run the city: "We must kill some rich men and take their money very soon." Caesar wants to put that off until absolutely necessary. "A fine, novel strategy," Posca agrees. "The element of surprise, no doubt." "Later you may nag me," Caesar declares as his wife, Calpurnia, emerges from the house and joins him in the street. They begin their stately walk to Julii Cooper's party. He takes her hand while she fishes for compliments on her outfit. "Exactly right, my dear," Caesar says. "Regal, but not excessively so." It is a nice outfit, all sky-blue draped silks and sparkly bits. Too bad it's attached to a face that could stop a sundial.

Vorenus is also in his party clothes: a fancier, multilayered toga and a garland on his head. He pulls off the headpiece and frets that nobody's going to show up to his party, but Niobe kindly reassures him, even when he says she was right in suggesting that he wait. Niobe's also looking fancy, dressed in a lovely purple gown and wearing flowers in a big hairdo that protrudes about a foot behind her head. Smiling, she advises Vorenus, "Try to smile occasionally. And don't bark at them." Before Vorenus can scowl at her and bark that he always smiles, the first guests arrive. As the hosts rise to greet them, Niobe quietly explains who their guest of honor is to Vorenus -- and, more importantly, to us: "Erastes Fulmen...building trades, fire insurance, olives." Talk about diversifying. Erastes booms out Vorenus's name and embraces him warmly, and then introduces his wife, Phyllis, who makes Calpurnia look like a stone fox. Vorenus directs them to seats, while Fulmen stops for a gesture of respect to the idol of Janus which has pride of place in the center of the courtyard. Next to arrive is Niobe's sister. We know this only because Niobe addresses her as "Sister." Because there's no family resemblance, I'll tell you that for free. And guess who Niobe's brother-in-law is? Yes, you got it in one: he's the stalkery father of Niobe's child. Niobe nervously secures assurances from her sister that everything's all right, and her sister tells her not to worry. Vorenus comes to say hello to the sister-in-law, Lyde, whom he hasn't seen for eight years and barely recognizes. She introduces her husband, Evander. Vorenus warmly shakes his cuckolder's hand, welcoming him and thanking him for the pig for the feast. But not for the greedy little piglet, of course, because he doesn't know about that yet.